Pete Buttigieg Named to Joe Biden Transition Team, If Elected

Pete Buttigieg could have a new job. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and former candidate to become the Democratic nominee for president is joining the Joe Biden White House transition team. Reuters is reporting Buttigieg joins a 15-person team that includes former National Security Advisor Susan Rice and former Assistant Attorney General Sally Yates. Buttigieg made history with his success running as an out candidate, often appearing together with husband Chasten Buttigieg on the campaign trail.

Longtime advisor and former U.S. senator from Delaware Ted Kauffman is leading the Democratic presidential nominee's White House transition team. In addition to Buttigieg, Rice, and Yates, Biden added four new co-chairs: campaign advisor Anita Dunn, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, former Obama economic adviser Jeffrey Zients, and Louisiana Representative Cedric Richmond also join the team.

"We are preparing for this transition amid the backdrop of a global health crisis and struggling economy," Kaufman said of the coalition who would start work in earnest if Biden is elected. "This is a transition like no other, and the team being assembled will help Joe Biden meet the urgent challenges facing our country on day one."

Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy was also added to the team. Murthy has been advising the Biden campaign on the ongoing global pandemic.

Buttigieg's historic campaign for the presidency ended in March following a poor showing in the South Carolina primary. The former Army officer had risen to prominence following an unexpected win in the Iowa caucuses, but proved unable to build upon that early victory and dropped out of the race prior to Super Tuesday.

"It validates the idea that we can expand a coalition not only unified around who it is we're against but around what it is we're for," Buttigieg said following his victory in Iowa. "And it validates a kid somewhere in a community wondering if he belongs, or she belongs, or they belong in their own family, that if you believe in yourself and your country, there's a lot backing up that belief."

Biden also added some labor heavyweights to his transition team. United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero, International Brotherhood of Electric Workers President Lonnie Stephenson, and Tony Allen, president of the historically Black Delaware State University, were also announced as new members of the team.

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